The summer is coming to a close and school has begun. Neighborhood
activity is picking up with a proposal for a variance for a private
school on property zoned multi-family near Briones park. The expanded
FREE bus service has begun, servicing Gunn and JLStanford and
extending cross-town service to a full day.

Not to say there wasn't activity over the summer. Mary Jane Leon has
been working with the Seniors committee with many meetings and lots
of activity to pull together seniors with common interests and
concerns.
Maryanne Welton (ZALU chair) has been finishing up her home
replacement project, as well as meeting with people involved with the
school proposal mentioned above (see ZALU article, page 3). She has
been very active preparing for the start of school at Barron Park
Elementary.

Board News
Don Anderson, will be working with activities at Gunn and Briones and
focusing on traffic issues related to Gunn and the neighborhood. The
Neighborhood Safety Committee is being reformed after a two year
break.
Ed Gaines has agreed to pull together a group that will begin working
on safety issues in the neighborhood beginning with the current
emergency water concerns related to the Hetch Hetchy water supply.
They will begin regular meetings and are looking to expand the
committee with anyone with similar interests around disaster
preparedness and community safety.

al Fresco
Occupying the old Fresco, then Willow Street Cafe location, al Fresco
is here! Locally owned and operated by Charles Alley and his partner
and Exec. Chef, Romeo Sembrano, it offers a wide selection of new
dishes, and some of the favorites Fresco served (red pepper soup, for
instance). Alley recently moved to Barron Park from the Midtown area
because he wanted to be close to his business and for his kids to be
close to Gunn where they attend school. He does a lot of good things
for the community, including donations to West Bay Opera and the
Electric Auto Association. It is important to point out that all
restaurants in the Bay Area are going through a very difficult time
due to the slowdown of the economy. al Fresco (see ad on the back
page) and Senor Taco will attend the Electric Car Rally at Stanford
that I coordinate every September and hopefully that will help boost
their business. Please remember to frequent all our local businesses
so they can weather these difficult times.

Barron Park Elementary School Garden Plans
With the completion of construction at Barron Park Elementary School
scheduled for the end of the year, the community is encouraged to
take part in creating plans for a new garden and gathering spot at
the school's entry. Once the temporary portable classrooms are
removed, the front area under the redwood trees will be redesigned to
create a welcoming invitation to the school grounds. Community
members are invited to help develop plans by attending a neighborhood
meeting on Sunday, October 28, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in the school's
multipurpose room. Refreshments will be provided. Questions? Call
principal Cathy Howard. (Just a reminder that Oct. 28 is the first
day of daylight savings time.)

Street Safety
Finally, let me do my annual reminder about traffic safety. Please be
aware that we all need to share the streets with cars, bikes, and
pedestrians alike. Obey traffic laws and most of all, be aware of
activities on the street and keep them safe and comfortable for all
of us. Think of others around you and default to less risky behavior
(the first rains will be coming soon). --Please see the excellent
article by Carolyn Spitz on pg. 6.

DONKEY NEWS
By Susan Carsen -- Donkey Volunteer

On Saturday, July 14, more than a dozen volunteer donkey-handlers and
their families learned that Niner and Perry are equus assinus 
donkeys  rather than equus caballus which is the Latin for
horses. They learned that Niner and Perry are "jacks" which is what
male donkeys are called. Females are jennets. During a relaxed
seminar for the handlers in the donkey pasture, veterinarian Dr. Gary
Hanes of Briarwood Equine Clinic in Woodside demonstrated some
aspects of regular equine health care as he gave the donkeys their
yearly vaccinations  donkeys require the same kind of health
care as horses. First, though, he provided information both
interesting and charming about these special Barron Park residents.
In addition to learning the difference between a jack and a jennet,
the group learned that a mule is a cross between a jack and a female
horse. A cross between a jennet and a horse stallion is called a
hinny. For all practical purposes, mules are sterile and so cannot
reproduce themselves.
A "burro" is the term for a mid-sized wild donkey.

With good care, donkeys can live between 25 and 40 years.
Donkeys with the dorsal strip down the back and over the shoulders,
as both Niner and Perry have, are often referred to as "Jerusalem"
donkeys.
Donkeys are herd animals and form close attachments. A lone donkey is
most likely to be a very lonely donkey. Dr. Hanes' own donkey has a
goat as it's constant companion.

Donkey's hooves are shaped differently than those of horses and
generally they do not need shoes. However they do need regular hoof
care and should have their hooves trimmed at least 4 times a year.
Farrier Clyde Farmer, a Barron Park native, also joined the group
that morning, allowing the handlers to see how the hooves are trimmed
and learn what problems to be on the lookout for in regards to the
donkey's feet.

Dr. Hanes showed how to tell that both Perry and Niner are in need of
a little diet, and demonstrated the measured amount of hay they
should be getting at meal times. The "boys" are currently getting a
lower calorie feed, and as always the many visitors to the donkey
pasture are asked to not give them any treats  no matter how
loudly they may bray for a hand-out.
The handlers enjoyed a picnic in Bol Park following the seminar.

Participants heard again  or for the first time for
newcomers  the chronicle of Bol Park, the donkey pasture, and
the various donkeys who came before Perry and Niner as recounted by
long-time residents Edith and Leland Smith. Conversation turned
briefly to financial concerns regarding future care of Perry and
Niner, and any donkeys who may come to Barron Park in the future.

Support for Perry and Niner comes completely from the generosity of
their neighbors and the community. The donkeys receive no tax
dollars, no government funds, no funds from the City of Palo Alto, no
grants from any animal welfare or humane organization. They are a
part of the neighborhood simply because people who live here care
about them and care about continuing this unique opportunity. In
return, Perry and Niner provide warmth and joy to those who walk by
their pasture; a rural equine experience for suburban children and
adults who visit them on Sundays in Bol Park; an opportunity for
humane education for children in Barron Park Schools; and a general
reaffirmation for all of us of our connection to the natural world.

General farrier and veterinary expenses for the donkeys total about
$1,000 a year. Food costs about $600 a year. Funds for the donkeys
are managed by Acterra (formerly the Peninsula Conservation Center
Foundation), which acts as fiscal agent for the Donkey Project,
providing insurance and handling donations and financial affairs.
Fees for these administrative services totaled about $200 this past
year. All of these expenses are funded solely through donations.

Contributions are generated from an annual appeal in the Barron Park
Association newsletter, sale of the donkey t-shirts at the Bol Park
May Fete, and cash put in the Donkeys' Jar on their regular Sunday
morning outings in Bol Park. Donkey handlers are grateful for the
support of the donkeys' friends who made contributions over the past
year totaling almost $2,000. If no unexpected expenses arise, this
will allow a few hundred dollars to be added to assets saved in the
Donkey Project Fund for emergencies; however, a sudden illness or
other emergency arising with one of the donkeys could quickly drain
down this sum. There is no guarantee that donations will continue to
flow into the account to ensure sufficient funds in the future.
All those who care about Perry and Niner seek to guarantee their
proper ongoing care and shelter, as well as to ensure that assets
will be available for health concerns as the donkeys age. For this
reason, it is imperative that more assets be added to the donkeys'
fund than are being spent for their general care on an annual basis.
The handlers hope that those generous neighbors who have contributed
in the past will consider increasing their support this year, and
that those who have not yet made a contribution to the donkeys will
consider doing so now. At least one Barron Park resident has
indicated that the donkeys will be included in her will, an
opportunity that others may wish to consider as well.

Tax deductible contributions for the donkeys' care may be sent to:
The Palo Alto Donkey Project
ACTERRA (Action for a Sustainable Earth)
3921 East Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303-4303

For further information about making a contribution on behalf of the
donkeys, please call Edith Smith at 493-9386. If you would like
information about how to become one of the volunteer donkey handlers,
please call Don Anderson at 494-8672.

And don't forget to say "hi" to Perry and Niner when you pass by
their pasture. Please remember though  Dr. Hanes insists
they're on a diet!

The project showing the most action in Barron Park is the new school
proposed by the Children's International School on Clemo Street. They
have begun the process for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to build a
new school on the 1.7-acre orchard across the street from Briones
Park. This private, non-profit school for grades kindergarten through
8th grade, currently located at Cubberley, would have a maximum of
135 to 150 students.
The lot is currently zoned RM-30, which allows multi-family housing.
If the school is unsuccessful in obtaining the CUP, a residential
developer will most likely build a large housing project on the
property. It has previously been suggested as a possible location for
a public library or community center, but it is unlikely the City
could afford the price either the school or developer could pay for
the site. Housing advocates are reluctant to see multifamily housing
sites used for other purposes.

The BPA sponsored a neighborhood meeting on September 6 to present
the archi-tect's conceptual plans for the project and get community
input. About 20 neighbors attended, as well as representatives from
the City Planning Department. The major concerns they voiced were the
impact of additional traffic on the existing congestion and access
for the fire department, neighbors, and school families. Neighbors
from the Green Acres I and II subdivisions were surprised they hadn't
heard about the project before and want to be involved as the project
goes through the City's approval process. Preserving the site for
multifamily housing, possibly affordable housing, was also mentioned.
At a previous neighborhood meeting on May 8, people were also
concerned about parking, size and height of the buildings, and use of
the park by the school.

The school and their architects will prepare plans that address
traffic, noise, and compatibility with adjacent residential uses.
They have begun work with a traffic engineer and arborist. Their
reports will become part of the application for the Conditional Use
Permit, which the school intends to submit in October. Various City
departments will evaluate the project and hold a public hearing so
all interested parties can respond to the proposal. Watch the BPA
news email list for further information about public meetings
concerning this project.

The status of most of the projects mentioned in the most recent
newsletter has not changed much:

South El Camino Real Design Study: The planning study looking at
transportation, urban design, land use and economic factors that
affect development along El Camino is underway. A draft of new design
guidelines that help create a pedestrian-oriented,
neighborhood-serving retail district will be available soon. These
guidelines will impact the look and feel of all new and renovated
structures along El Camino as well as the public areas, sidewalks and
plantings.

Old Blockbuster Site: A nine-unit condominium project is proposed for
the site of the old Blockbuster Video store on the corner of El
Camino and Vista. Preliminary review by the Planning Department and
Architectural Review Board recommended design changes to encourage a
more pedestrian-friendly street frontage. Revised plans have not yet
been submitted.
Subdivision at 797 Matadero: City Planning staff informed the
property owners that their plans to subdivide a large parcel on
Matadero into five single family house lots would not likely be
approved. Revised plans have not been submitted.

If you are interested in zoning and land use issues, any of the
projects listed above, or want to participate on our committee, you
can contact me at 493-3035 or email.

(part ONE of a SIX-part article)Jose Pena: Our First Landowner
Before Any Landowners -- The Puichon
At the time of the first Spanish exploration of the San Francisco Bay
Area in 1769, the land we now call Barron Park was occupied by people
we call Puichon, The Puichon were a tribe-let included in the group
of Native Americans known to the Spanish as the Ohlone. There was a
village or campsite on the Southeast bank of Matadero Creek in the
upper part of the present-day donkey pasture and probably extending
upstream under the Veteran's Administration Hospital property.

The quiet isolation of the Puichon was first disturbed by the
exploring expedition of Gaspar de Portola, who "discovered" San
Francisco Bay. Portola's men camped near a giant redwood tree on the
banks of San Francisquito Creek from November 6 to 11, 1769. They
ranged throughout the Santa Clara Valley, certainly riding through
what is now South Palo Alto. Were the Puichon then living at the site
in Barron Park? If so, were they visited by Portola's men? We can
only speculate, as there is no record of a visit to any "rancheria",
as they called the Native American settlements, in our area.

The Appearance of Our Land
We do know a little bit about the appearance of the land in 1769.
Roble Ridge was lightly wooded with well-spaced Valley Oaks and a few
Live Oaks, as was most of Gunn High School and the Alta Mesa Cemetery
grounds. Another oak woodland extended from the vicinity of Matadero
and Whitsell Streets east through the Magnolia Drive and Military Way
neighborhoods to Los Robles Avenue. The courses of both Barron and
Matadero Creeks were densely lined with Valley Oak and Coast Live
Oak, along with occasional Buckeye, California Laurel and Poison Oak.
Both creeks flowed approximately where they do today, but were
probably not cut so deeply. There were probably seasonal marshes west
and south of the slightly higher ground along present-day El Camino
Real. The area around Chimalus Avenue may have been covered with a
light growth of Chamise or Chaparral ("Chimiles"). Most of the rest
of the area, from El Centro Avenue east to Encina Grande, Maybell and
Greenacres I and II, was covered with grassland interspersed with
clumps of oaks.

Santa Clara Mission
In the decade following the Portola expedition, Spanish explorations
of the area became frequent, culminating in the founding of Santa
Clara Mission on January 12, 1777. This marked the beginning of the
end of the Puichon way of life and the start of the mission period.
Within a few years of the mission's founding, the Native Americans of
the Santa Clara Valley had been gathered in to the mission community
and converted from hunter-gatherers to European-type agricultural
workers. The population dropped precipitously as European diseases
and cultural demoralization took their toll. By the early decades of
the nineteenth century, the missions had become industrial-style
cattle rancho businesses producing hides and tallow for semi-legal
trading with "Boston" ships. Our land was incorporated into Mission
Santa Clara's grazing area, and may have been designated partly for
sheepherding. The Barron Park area acquired it's first road,
Arastradero, which was a logging haul road from the redwood groves of
Portola Valley and Woodside to Mission Santa Clara and the Pueblo of
San Jose.

The few Spanish settlers in California took advantage of Mexican
independence from Spain in 1821 to lobby Mexico City for
secularization of the missions. During secularization in the 1830s,
the mission businesses were ended and the Native Americans freed from
clerical control and granted small plots of the mission farm land to
support themselves. After a series of abortive "revolutions" against
arbitrary rule by governors sent from Mexico City, the
Californios--Mexican citizens, some of whom had married Native
Americans--won a greater degree of control over the province and the
governors began making large land grants to their political
supporters. The Californios were granted large swaths of the mission
grazing lands to start ranchos.

Don Jose Pena
It was at this time that Don Jose Pena appears in our history. Pena
was an artilleryman at the Presidio of San Francisco who retired from
active military service and moved to Santa Clara. Phyllis Filiberti
Butler, author of "Old Santa Clara Valley" describes him as "one of
the most ambitious, intelligent men of California's Mexican period.
Fully aware of the value of land, he petitioned for seven land
grants. Though he took possession of only two of these, he left his
unique mark up and down Alta California. As lieutenant of artillery,
elector, teacher, commissary and acting administrator, he served at
San Diego, Monterey, San Francisco, and his last years at Santa
Clara."

In 1840, Governor Alvarado granted him an eight room adobe house at
Mission Santa Clara with 100 varas of surrounding land. He was a
teacher of Santa Clara's "Book School"--forerunner of Santa Clara
University. After secularization he kept the account books and was in
charge of the storehouses. His house still stands, preserved as "The
Pena Adobe" at 3260 The Alameda in Santa Clara.

Rancho Santa Rita
Earlier, in 1822, Pena had petitioned Mission Santa Clara for permission
to occupy two square leagues or about 4,400 acres of the mission
grazing lands in South Palo Alto. His request was granted, but
nothing is known of Pena's use of the land for the next 20 years.

After secularization and the Californios takeover of the provincial
government, Pena moved to obtain title to the mission land. In 1841,
he applied for the land he had been using and was granted 8,500 acres
by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado. Pena was then 64 years old and
was teaching school in the small community at Santa Clara. He named
his property Rancho Rincon de San Francisquito ("The ranch in the
bend of the Little Saint Francis"), but it was generally known as
Rancho Santa Rita. It had at least three structures on it. There was
a wood house on the south side of Lagunita Drive on the Stanford
campus. It also had a herdsman's hut located near the San Antonio
Road overpass at Alma. This is the same general location where
Secundino Robles later built his renowned two-story adobe ranch
house. The third structure was the "Corral de Lleguas" (mares) north
of San Antonio or Lleguas Creek (now Adobe Creek), possibly in the
vicinity of Middlefield Road. Pena enjoyed ownership of the rancho
for only six years before selling it in 1847 to Don Secundino Robles
and his brother Teodoro for $3,500, or about 40 cents an acre. He
died in 1852.

The story of the Robles family will be told in the next article of
this six-part series on the early landowners of Barron Park, to
appear in the Winter issue of this newsletter.

[Editor's note: photos only appear in the paper editon of this newsletter]

Barron Park Garden Railway just celebrated twenty years of operation
on August 28, 2001. The G-gauge model fills the backyard of Operator
Eric Struck's home at 748 Kendall Avenue and includes nine
locomotives and over a hundred freight and passenger cars, all tucked
away beneath a tarp protecting the setup from leaves from the canopy
of large trees overhead. The backyard railway opened in 1981 with one
locomotive and three cars and was later featured on Bay Area
Backroads. Eric is a member of the Bay Area Garden Railway Society,
whose annual meeting in March and board meetings every other month
keep him in touch with other model train enthusiasts.

The Railway is open Saturdays from 12-4:30 pm, Sundays 11-5 pm
(except the third Sunday of the month), and some holidays. It closes
late November through April. Eric welcomes appointments for school
groups. There is no charge but donations are appreciated. Call
(650)493-7367 for more information. [see on-line photos at cyberstars.com]

Is Going to School Just a "Walk in the Park?"
Fall is in the air and school is back in session. Streets are filled
with students of all ages on foot or on bikes, scooters, and
skateboards. The kids are getting great exercise and helping keep the
air clean but their safety on the way to and from school is not
something we can take for granted. This is an excellent time to look
at what we each can do to help make Barron Park safer for our young
residents.

A quick tour of Barron Park can show many hazards to those moving on
their own power. Here are a few:

Overgrown bushes and tree branches jutting into streets.

Cars parked several feet onto street pavement.

Recycling containers in or near street.

Blind curves with overgrowth.

Construction dumpsters and materials in parking strips or on street.

These obstacles can make those on the road less visible or require
them to move dangerously into traffic. Driving practices such as
speeding or unsafe passing are also a major problem. Below are some
tips for drivers, property owners, parents, pedestrians and cyclists.
How can you help?

Tips for Drivers

Observe the 25 mph speed limit, especially in school zones.

Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists in crosswalks.

Be aware. Young children cannot accurately judge speed and distance.

Don't park in bike lanes.

Avoid making "U" turns, backing up or other unsafe maneuvers near schools.

Avoid school areas during school start and end hours (8-8:30 and 2:30-3:00)

Always carefully check behind you before backing out of
driveways. Be extra cautious around stopped school and city buses.

Children are unpredictable. They may do strange actions just as
you pass them. Give them lots of room and slow down. This is
especially true of bicyclists. They may suddenly swerve to avoid a
bump, or just for the fun of it.

Fall comes with many new cyclists who are unfamiliar with the
road or carrying a backpack for the first time. Give them room to
make a mistake and live.

Be extra careful at intersections. Children sometimes may not
stop, may not understand the right of way, or may be distracted.

Tips for Property Owners
Take a look around your own property to see how safely pedestrians
can pass. If a child must avoid obstacles by stepping into the
street, then they are being put at risk. Overgrown landscaping can
make it hard for drivers to see children on their way to school and
vice versa.

Trim overgrown bushes and trees.

Park cars in driveways or well inside parking strips.

Keep all obstacles off street and ask the same of your guests
(cars, recycling bins).

Provide sight lines around construction site obstacles.
Construction vehicles and pedestrians/cyclists need to be able to see
each other. Ask construction workers and regular service vehicles to
park safely near your home.

Tips for Parents

Help your children choose a safe route to school.

Teach children to be predictable, to always cross at corners and
to obey stop signs and crossing guards. Walk or bike with them until
you are confident they can handle the route safely.
n If you must drive, consider carpooling. Fewer cars mean fewer risks
for accidents.

Always follow the school's posted traffic flows when dropping
kids off or picking them up from school.
Tips for Pedestrians

Be alert. Everything is bigger and moving faster than you!

Be extra cautious around obstacles, shady areas or curves in the
roadway. You may not be visible to drivers.
n Make eye contact with drivers at intersections and driveways. Don't
assume they see you!

Wear bright outerwear, especially on overcast days or early
mornings to get higher visibility. Consider applying reflector strips
to backpacks.

Tips for Bicyclists

Wear a helmet and make sure it fits properly: snug and level on
your head, covering most of your forehead.

Ride on the right--cyclists riding wrong way are hard for drivers to see.

Be alert. Watch out for cars opening doors, backing out of
driveways and making turns.

Stay visible to traffic. Make eye contact with drivers.

Obey stop signs, traffic lights and other laws.

Walk bikes in crosswalks.

Stay off sidewalks or safely share walk-ride areas with
pedestrians where sidewalks are not present.

Do not carry things in hands. Use backpack or basket.

Avoid riding in valley gutters since these often have debris that
can damage tires or cause skids.
Tips for Skateboarders, In-Line Skates, and Scooters

Wear a helmet! See tips for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Be extra cautious around obstacles, shady areas or curves in the
roadway. You may not be visible to drivers.

Make eye contact with drivers at intersections and driveways.
Don't assume they see you!

Note: skates and scooters should follow pedestrian rules. When
sidewalks are present, skaters and scooters should not be in the
roadway.
These practices will make it easier for our neighborhood students to
get to school. Following these suggestions also makes it safer and
more pleasant when any of us decide to get out of the car. Let's all
share our streets safely!

Lunches Are a Hit
As planned, the Barron Park Seniors got together for lunch June ll.
Twenty-six of us crowded together in Hobee's little back room, and
had a rousing time. Food was good, service a little slow but Fabian
did his best. Volume was so high we all had to yell to carry on
conversations. We didn't let that stop us at all--just went ahead and
yelled.

Our August get together was a picnic at Juana Briones Park on the
16th. We met near the picnic tables under the redwood trees. Everyone
brought a sandwich, and the Barron Park Association provided desert.
The weather was perfect, the turnout was good, and everyone seemed to
enjoy being outside on such a lovely day. No yelling necessary, since
we had room to spread out.

The next social outing will be another lunch, probably in early
October. If you would like to join us, phone Julie or Mary Jane
(phone numbers at the end of this column), so we can let you know
time, date, and location. We would also like to hear your suggestions
for restaurants. By October we can't expect the weather to be good
enough for another picnic.

Services for Seniors
The Seniors Committee of the Barron Park Association continues to
offer services for seniors. If you would like to find out more, let
us hear from you. We could

Run an errand for you or with you.

Do small odd jobs at your home.

Help you learn to use e-mail.

Stop by for a visit, or give you a daily phone call.

How to Build Community
Turn off your TV * Leave your house * Sit on your stoop * Ask a
question * Pick up litter * Ask for help when you need it * Turn down
the music * Start a tradition

All this advice comes from a lovely poster headlined "How to Build
Community." If you want to read the whole poster, come to the next
Seniors lunch. We will bring it along.

We know there are many seniors out there who have energy to spare and
time on their hands. If you are one of the active ones, consider
giving some of yourself to the Partners in Caring program, either in
Barron Park or in the larger community of Palo Alto.

Partners in Caring
Partners in Caring, sponsored by Avenidas, matches active partners
with older adults who need a bit of assistance in daily living.
Volunteers are needed now. Each volunteer in this program phones or
visits their partner regularly and helps with some of the daily
activities that can become difficult as we age. They may provide
shopping assistance, transportation, friendly visiting, meal
preparation, or respite to weary families caring for a loved one.
Volunteers usually form a long-term, one-on-one relationship with
their partner.

A very small time commitment can make a world of difference to an
oldster in your community. If you are interested in this program,
phone Mary Jane Leon at 493-5248. Let us hear from you.